Statement on TPS

June 14, 2019—The federal government’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) for Haitians led to the filing of several lawsuits challenging the decision. The Haitian Lawyers Association (“HLA”) is party to one of the lawsuits and has been closely monitoring the legal developments in the other actions challenging the rescission. HLA is excited about the progress made thus far. On October 3, 2018 and April 11, 2019, federal judges in Ramos v. Nielsen and Saget v. Trump issued preliminary injunctions preventing the termination of TPS for Haitians. HLA’s action, NAACP v. DHS, continues to move forward as well, now with discovery underway. These lawsuits have moved the needle in the fight for TPS. As a result, TPS for Haitians will no longer end on July 22, 2019. It was extended for nine months. Certainly, nine months is not sufficient but is a step towards progress.

Beyond the courtroom, true reform can and must take place within our legislature. Our government must work on real solutions to correct the immigration system, and create, among other things, a path for Haitian TPS recipients to permanently reside in the United States and continue to be productive members of our society. HLA fully supports the American Dream and Promise Act passed by the United States House of Representatives and urges the United States Senate to also pass the bill and the President to sign the bill into law.

Forcing Haitian TPS recipients to go back to Haiti is inhumane. Haiti is still struggling to rebuild from multiple devastating natural and man-made disasters, such as the 2010 earthquake, the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, Irma and Maria and the Cholera epidemic. As many have testified, the deplorable conditions caused by the 2010 earthquake still exist and has only been exacerbated by the recent disasters. Deporting Haitians will force the separation of families seeking the protection of U.S. laws and will force some U.S.-born children to lose their Haitian parents and caregivers to deportation.

Haitians with TPS have been living, working, and paying taxes across the country for years. They have become lawyers and judges, well-respected physicians and professors, proud members of our Armed Forces, and talented artists and amazing athletes. Their presence has improved our economy and our nation.
HLA is dedicated to the fight for Haitian TPS recipients to ensure that the hundreds of thousands of them are not sent back prematurely.

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The Haitian Lawyers Association (HLA) is a non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote excellence, professionalism, equality and diversity in the legal profession and among our members and to facilitate the administration of justice while striving to protect and promote the general welfare of the Haitian-American community and other minority residents in the South Florida area.